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Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Two East’s Llantwtit
Fardre once again upset the form guide as they bagged a place in the
semi-finals of the Swalec Plate, dispatching first division outfit Llangennech
31-21.

Heading into the encounter
against One West’s Llangennech, Fardre had previously seen off holders Heol y
Cyw and One East outfit Glamorgan Wanderers.

After taking a while to get into
the match Fardre soon acclimatised, with fly-half Jason Pocock once again the
catalyst for the win as the player/coach amassed 16 points from the tee, while
Adam Harcourt, Elliot Davies and Scott Burrows all crossed for the visitors.

Rhiwbina's Dan Murphy in action against Nant Conwy

Meanwhile fellow Two East outfit Rhiwbina
are also just one win away from a day out at the Millennium Stadium as they
Squirrels saw off 2012 runners up Nant Conwy at Caedelyn, running out 36-19
winners, scoring six tries in the process.

The North Walians made life
difficult for the Squirrels at times and continued to attack until the final
whistle, but the formidable Rhiwbina pack, with Dan Murphy putting in an outstanding
performance, were just too strong for the visitors.

The hosts opened the scoring with
a Louis Millar try but Nant soon cancelled that score out with a touchdown by
Emrys Evans.

The Squirrels remained on top
before the break with Gareth Clwyd-Jones and Chris Fido both crossing the
whitewash.

After the break, the
outstanding Gareth McCarthy continued to terrorise the Nant defence, setting up
hooker Jamie DeAbreu's touchdown.

Fido then bagged for his second
of the afternoon following great work by the pack with Murphy again leading the
way.

The visitors did try and mount a
comeback when Euros Jones went beneath the posts, but Rhiwbina made sure of
victory when they shunted back the Nant pack from a 5 metre scrum and the
referee was forced to award the Squirrels a penalty try, converted by McCarthy.

With the home faithful already
toasting their team’s success, it was Nant that had the final say with Carwyn
Roberts grabbing a late consolation.

However, there was no such upset
at Glynneath where the One West leaders overcame Maesteg Quins 19-13 in a
titanic battle.

In the day’s other quarter-final
clash, Two West’s Amman United were unable to field a side in their match-up
against Merthyr, handing the Ironmen a walkover.

In the
Swalec Bowl, Four South
East’s Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd’s dreams of completing a League and Cup double
are still on, after the Cardiff outfit progressed to the last four of the competition
thanks to a 35-18 home win over Nantymoel.

Gareth Williams’ troops produced
a strong second half display to shake off their league rivals ‘Moel, crossing
four times in all through Sam Rogers, Richard Read, Deian Thomas and Amlyn
Griffiths.

Meanwhile, fellow Four South East
outfit Llantwit Major also clinched a place in the final four with a 30-21 home
success over Pyle.

The boot of Ryan Evans once again
proved pivotal as the fly-half claimed 20 of his side’s points from the tee,
while wings Marcus Pearce and Rhys Belmont crossed the whitewash.

There is to be no fairytale for
Six South East’s Hartridge after the lowest league side that was left in the
competition went down 30-15 to Four East’s Old Illtydians.

Finally, Llandudno made
certain of a North Wales representative in the last four of the Swalec Bowl by
beating Division Five South West visitors Ystradgynlais 24-10.